How John Kerry gambled and lost

[LuminousX]

How John Kerry gambled and lost

Perhaps nothing was more pathetic in the last Democratic debate (and much about it was pathetic) than the diminished status of John Kerry. The Massachusetts senator was left on the sidelines as other Dems aimed potshots at Howard Dean, who, according to his rivals, either impugned rural Southerners or cozied up to them, depending on which of his critics was speaking.

(Though Dean later ended up apologizing, his comments about Southerners should not have been considered controversial. His statement - "I still want to be the candidate for guys with Confederate flags in their pickup trucks" - was simply an admission of the obvious: Democrats need to reach out to white Southerners, especially men, if they want to win.)

During the debate, Kerry answered questions thoughtfully enough, but he didn't distinguish himself from his colleagues. He is the candidate who has most befuddled the odds-makers. Pegged the front-runner a year ago by pundits and political consultants, he instead finds himself pushed aside by Dean in New Hampshire and Richard Gephardt in Iowa, both states with crucial early Democratic primaries.

Kerry's malaise can be traced to one act, one decision, one vote: his support of the resolution giving President Bush the authority to invade Iraq. Had Kerry voted "no," he'd be the Democratic front-runner right now, bringing credibility on foreign policy because of his military service while also easily upstaging Wesley Clark on domestic policy.

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Again, we can see how one misguided action can turn an entire campaign upside down. Attacking Dean doesn't change his vote.

[Padraig18]

1. What John Kerry forgot, and why it's biting him in the ass.

"Allow the President to invade a neighboring nation, whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so, whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such a purpose -- and you allow him to make war at pleasure.

If today, he should choose to say he thinks it necessary to invade Canada, to prevent the British from invading us, how could you stop him? You may say to him, 'I see no probability of the British invading us' but he will say to you, 'Be silent; I see it, if you don't.'" --

--- Congressman Abraham Lincoln, 158 years ago

[Cha]

2. Wow! Thanks for that quote, Padraig!

I didn't know who I thought was saying that..but I thought it was current! That's amazing :kick:

[Padraig18]

3. YW!

Nah, this is hardly a novel proposition. :hi:

[Cha]

4. "Novel" or not...Jim Jeffords and Patrick

Leahy, among others in the Senate, saw it. And their consciences are clean. Thousands and thousands of deaths are not on their hands.

:hi:

[Padraig18]

7. And my senator, Dick Durbin, saw it. n/t

[NNadir]

8. Thanks much...

In my own opposition to war I have always kept in my mind Lincoln's opposition to the Mexican War, but I was unfamiliar with that quote.

Can you give the reference? I really plan to use that one in some arguments.

[Padraig18]

9. I'd really have to search it out.

I googled it last year, when they were still debating the IWR. :hi:

[sendero]

10. Just ....

.... use Google, doing a "phrase" search.

http://quotes.prolix.nu/Authors/?Abraham_Lincoln

[Egnever]

5. Gamble is exactly what he did

he weighed the chances of bush actually going for it against what looked to be the politically safe position at the time.

If he had done what he knew to be right he would probably be our next president.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. I see where the polls support Kerry's vote

never mind the particular consequences of Bush's specific actions- Kerry supported the president.